The Riot Connex from Riot Squad is a new style of pod system, that in Riot Squad’s own words ‘will make disposable vapes obsolete!’
Riot Squad are one of the largest and most easily recognisable brand names in the UK vaping industry.
These comprise shortfills, nicotine salt e-liquids as well as traditional freebase nicotine e-liquids.
They’ve also dipped their toes into the disposable vape market previously, with their range of Riot Bars. With the impending regulations coming in around disposable vapes in the UK, the Connex represents a new approach to this section of the market.
What Can We Expect From The Riot Connex Pod Kit?
Riot Squad’s Connex is a new style of pod system that places an emphasis on sustainability. The carbon footprint details proudly feature on the Riot Squad website and it is clear that they want to distance themselves from the ‘disposable’ tag!
Reusability is key here and the kit is made up of a rechargeable battery that Riot Squad say can be recharged up to 500 times.
This connects (Connex?!) magnetically to a 2ml capacity, 20mg nicotine salt strength pre-filled flavoured pod capsule that is manufactured from recycled plastic.
Once done with the pod capsule, you simply retain the battery and connect a new pod from a range of 13 different flavours formulated in Riot Squad’s UK lab.
You can also contact Riot Squad for a pre-paid recycling envelope so that you can send in your empty pod capsules for recycling, thus saving it from ending up in landfill!
Vape Club sent us the Blue Cherry Burst Riot Connex pod kit for review, along with each flavour from the Riot Connex pod range!
Let’s see what it has to offer!
Update: 26/11/24
We have been sent seven of the new flavours which have been added to the Connex range! Scroll down further in the review or click here to see what we thought!
Kit Contents
- Riot Squad Connex device
- 2x Riot Squad prefilled pods
- User manual
Specs
- Compatible with Riot Squad pre-filled 2ml pods
- Range of 13 different flavours
- 20mg nicotine salt strength
- Removable battery
- Magnetic pod connection
- Inhale activated
- MTL vaping
- Mesh coil
- Pods manufactured from recycled plastic, carbon negative manufacturing process
- Empty pod capsules can be recycled
- USB Type-C rechargeable battery
- On/Off switch for safety
Design and Build Quality
So, this is a new style of pre-filled pod system and it actually comprises two parts. The first is the Connex battery, which you want to keep hold of once you’ve finished the 2ml pod.
This system is handy as well if you have grabbed a few different flavoured pod capsules, as you can easily switch them about on the fly and change your flavour.
When purchasing a Connex kit, you get a choice of seven different flavours to pick from, and you get two 2ml pods inside the box.
Battery/Connection
Battery/ConnectionThe Connex battery has magnets on one side, which attach to the 2ml pod and hold it in place. Also present on the battery is an on/off switch which also doubles up as a child lock and a USB Type-C charging port.
USB Charging
There isn’t a USB Type-C cable included in the box, but I would imagine the vast majority of the population already own at least one so this shouldn’t be an issue!
Riot Squad state that the Connex battery can be recharged up to 500 times. Making it reusable and reducing the waste footprint of the Connex kit.
Pods
The 2ml pod capsules are prefilled with 20mg nicotine salt based e-liquid and are manufactured from recycled plastic.
Rather than throw out the empty pod capsule once it is done, you can email Riot Squad (web@bemoreriot.com) for a pre-paid recycling envelope. Then send back your empty pod capsules for recycling and reuse, preventing these from ending up in landfill.
With both the Connex battery part and the 2ml prefilled pod together, you’ve got a compact and sturdy little pod system that measures in at 66mm x 40mm x 15cm and it weighs only 34g. I hardly noticed this in my pocket when carrying it about!
Blue Cherry Burst
They say…
“Juicy Cherry combines with a Blue Icy Slush.”
We say…
This isn’t usually a flavour profile that I would go for but I found myself really enjoying this one!
I wouldn’t say the Cherry is too juicy, it’s more of a subtle Candied Cherry flavour. It blends in with the Blue Raspberry slushy flavour in the background, with a nice cooling undertone that left a chill in my throat. Actually very moreish and tasty!
Cherry Cola
They say…
“Sweet refreshing Cola flavour with fruity Cherry.”
We say…
This is pretty damn bang on for a Cherry Cola flavour. It is bold, punchy and does a great job of replicating the real thing. I can actually imagine myself having a sip of Cherry Cola whilst I’m vaping this, it is very authentic tasting!
Riot Squad have managed to get the blend absolutely perfect, delivering a vape that really hits the spot. It’s even rounded off with a little hint of fizz at the end!
Strawberry Blueberry Ice
They say…
“Strawberry & Blueberry medley with an icy finish”
We say…
Authentic tasting Strawberry and Blueberry flavours are present in this vape. I get a hit of both of them from the get-go, with a nice chilly finish that rounds off this one perfectly.
Again, blending with this one is completely spot on, and the two flavours aren’t too overpowering either.
Guava, Passionfruit & Pineapple
They say…
“Tropical Passionfruit, Pineapple & Guava”
We say…
One of my favourite pod capsules in this range!
Authentic tasting Pineapple and Passionfruit is found here, with a Guava undertone. These three flavours blend together for a juicy, sweet and exotic vape. Plenty of summery vibes found within this one that is for sure!
It makes a refreshing change from the usual Kiwi, Passionfruit and Guava combinations found within just about every disposable range going. The Pineapple blends in better than Kiwi does. A totally tropical taste!
Lychee Watermelon
They say…
“Sweet aromatic Lychee with fresh Watermelon”
We say…
Oh no, possibly two of my least favourite flavours here!
But, sticking my objective hat on, I must say that Riot Squad have done a great job of capturing the authentic taste of these two flavours. Both the Lychee and Watermelon flavours tasted exactly as I expected them to. There was no nasty artificial taste to them and the flavour blend actually wasn’t too overpowering either.
Pink Lemonade
They say…
“Zesty Lemonade and a fusion of Strawberries.”
We say…
An interesting take on a Pink Lemonade, which usually features a Raspberry or Grapefruit flavour mixed with Lemonade.
I get a slightly subtle Strawberry that blends in with a fizzy, sweet and citrusy Lemonade flavour, that I felt overtook the Strawberry flavour somewhat.
If the Strawberry was turned up just a notch or two then this would be absolutely perfect in my opinion. It’s just a shame that there wasn’t more Strawberry flavour in it for me!
Triple Mint
They say…
“Minty blend of Spearmint, Peppermint & Menthol.”
We say…
I couldn’t help but be reminded of sucking on a Polo Mint when vaping on this. It is a very crisp and refreshing vape that is another really well blended one. Spearmint and Peppermint are the two most noticeable flavour notes, with a subtle note of Menthol as an undertone.
I felt the Menthol could have been a touch stronger, to give more of a chill in the throat. But that is only because I do enjoy strong Menthol tasting vapes!
Mango, Peach & Pineapple
They say…
“A tropical trio of Mango, Peach & Pineapple.”
We say…
This is an absolutely gorgeous vape that I would imagine will be amongst the most popular ones in the Riot Connex range.
The blend is absolutely perfect and the three flavours are fantastic. They taste authentic and I can easily identify the presence of all three when vaping on this. It is also loaded with a juicy taste and sweetness.
Marvellous stuff, well done Riot Squad!
Pineapple Ice
They say…
“Exotic and tangy Pineapple with an icy sensation.”
We say…
A superb, straightforward Pineapple Ice vape.
It captures the taste and the mouthfeel of Pineapple almost perfectly, rather than going for an artificial Pineapple flavour.
The icy tone could do with being a little bit stronger, as I felt that it was a little bit subtle. But all in all this is a very enjoyable little number!
Watermelon Ice
They say…
“Mouth-watering fruity Watermelon frozen to its core.”
We say…
The taste of Watermelon is replicated well here, right down to the juicy and watery mouthfeel. It isn’t artificial tasting, nor is it overpowering either.
Again, the icy note could be a little bit stronger but that has been a bit of a recurring theme with this range, it seems that the icy notes are meant to be a bit subtle!
Grape Ice
They say…
“A divine set of Dark Grapes with a thin icy layer.”
We say…
Grape Ice has quite an artificial grape flavour to it, rather than an authentic fruit-tasting flavour. It is quite a strong tasting artificial Grape as well, I really didn’t get on with it.
There wasn’t much in the way of an icy layer to it either. In fact I couldn’t even really detect it and it left me with a nasty aftertaste at the end.
I also gave it to the wife – lover of all things Grape – to try and she wasn’t a fan of Grape Ice either, saying that it just tasted ‘odd’!
Blueberry Sour Raspberry
They say…
“Sour Blueberry and Raspberry fruit fusion.”
We say…
I must say I did quite enjoy this one.
It has a tasty blend of Blueberry and Raspberry, that is both sweet and sour. The Raspberry lends the sweetness and the Blueberry lends the sour to this vape.
Blending is absolutely spot on, with the right mix of both flavours and it manages to be neither too sweet nor too sour.
Classic Tobacco
They say…
“Rich, smoky and wonderfully smooth.”
We say…
Classic Tobacco has got to be the best tasting disposable pre-filled pod that I have tried to date!
I would agree with the description that it is rich, smoky and wonderfully smooth.
It had a bit of a creamy scent to it but there’s no cream flavour notes present here.
This is a straightforward tobacco flavour that is definitely one for the tobacco purists. Also a good option for people who are switching from cigarettes to vaping and are looking for a tobacco flavour.
There’s some rich, woody notes to it with a smoky aftertaste. The flavour is delivered smoothly with very little throat hit. It is an easily enjoyable all day vape for me!
New Flavours – 26/11/24
Riot have recently refreshed the Connex line and added seven tasty new flavours to it, bringing the total of available flavours up to 20!
Vape Club have very kindly sent these new flavours through to us to review!
Triple Mango Ice
They say:
Prepare for a tropical escape! The lush sweetness of mango, paired with an icy cool finish, creates a refreshing burst that will transport your taste buds to paradise.
We say:
I’ve still never fully understood the meaning behind ‘Triple’ mango, is it triple the flavouring or three types of mango? Something else entirely? Perhaps you can enlighten me in the comments section below this review!
Riot Connex’s Triple Mango tastes like a very strong and heavily sweetened mango flavour, with an easy going chilly breeze at the end. The mango is pretty well done, tasting quite authentic and possessing the mouthwatering juicy notes that I enjoy.
I must say I do like my strong, chilled mango flavours so this one was a winner for me!
Banana Ice
They say:
Get ready for a burst of smooth, creamy banana, perfectly balanced with a cool, refreshing icy twist!
We say:
There’s a really strong Banana Foam Sweet smell present when I take this one out of the packet, unfortunately that isn’t a particularly appetising scent for me!
I was really hoping that this wouldn’t taste of Banana Foam Sweets…and thankfully it does not!
There’s definitely more of an authentic banana flavour to this. I get some ripe and creamy banana notes. The icy twist is more of a slightly weak, yet refreshing chill that gets stronger towards the end.
I’d say there’s a bit of a banana milkshake vibe going on here especially with the icy sensation, if only it was a little creamier!
Blackberry Mojito
They say:
Get ready for a burst of juicy blackberry with a cool, refreshing hint of mint for a deliciously smooth twist!
We say:
I’ve got to say, out of the seven new flavours that I received, I was looking forward to trying this one out the most as I’m very partial to a Mojito flavour. This one offers a different twist on it with the addition of blackberry!
From the very first puff, I definitely wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. Blackberry feels right at home with the mojito flavour notes. It delivers a dark, sweet and juicy contrast to the sharp and crisp notes from the minty mojito.
It works so well together and I enjoyed it so much that my Connex pod barely lasted me a whole day!
Apple Burst
They say:
Get ready for a crisp, juicy burst of apple, balanced with a refreshing sweetness that leaves you craving more!
We say:
This one really reminded me of a Sour Apple Chewy Sweet, just like the ones I loved when I was a kid!
I get a strong and sweet Green Apple to start off with and there’s just a hint of a tart, crisp note present too. I do taste quite a fair amount of sweetener here and there’s also a subtle sour note that I also pick up on.
There’s a very sweet finish to this one. I would say that it is definitely more pronounced at the end and it seems to overpower the crispness from the apple. It’s enjoyable for me though, that increased level of sweetness is what reminds me of a Sour Apple Sweet when vaping this.
Sicilian Lemon Lime
They say:
Prepare for a citrusy blast! The zing of zesty Sicilian lemon and lime, mixed with an icy slush, delivers a bright, refreshing kick that will awaken your senses.
We say:
Wow, so this one does something a little different to the multitude of almost identical lemon lime blends on the market!
That is down to the Sicilian lemon flavouring used in the blend. This is a much sweeter lemon compared to what I have been used to in the past and it definitely takes centre stage in this mix. There’s a nice sourness to it as well.
The lime is more of a candied lime flavour that takes more of a back seat to the Sicilian lemon.
Overall, this is an absolutely top notch lemon and lime blend that you absolutely should look at if you are tired of the same old lemon and lime mixes!
Strawberry Raspberry Cherry
They say:
Get ready for a burst of sweet strawberry, tangy raspberry, and bold cherry in a perfectly juicy, mouth-watering blend!
We say:
This is quite unashamedly a full-on candied fruit blend!
I do think the strawberry gets a bit lost in the mix here. I definitely get the raspberry and cherry notes but the strawberry is quite weak in comparison. It’s more of a barely detectable background note and tastes like a creamy strawberry Chewy Sweet type flavour.
The raspberry notes deliver quite a punchy sour tang and the cherry reminded me of Cherry Jam. Of course, this is a very sweet one so worth checking out if you like a very sweet fruit blend!
Strawberry Kiwi Apple
They say:
Brace yourself for a fruity rush! The sweet burst of strawberry, tangy kiwi, and crisp apple come together in a refreshing mix that’ll leave your taste buds tingling.
We say:
I haven’t been the biggest fan of strawberry and kiwi blends in the past but I’m definitely going to make an exception for this one. This one I found to be really enjoyable and couldn’t put it down after the first couple of puffs!
I think the reason I found this enjoyable compared to other strawberry and kiwi blends was the addition of the apple. It blends in really nicely with the kiwi at the end providing a nice, contrasting crisp note to the sourness from the kiwi.
There’s a real blast of sweetness alongside the candied strawberry flavouring, which for me was the most dominant flavour in the mix.
Puff Count
Each 2ml pod capsule is rated to last up to 600 puffs and your mileage will vary depending on how frequently you use the product and how long an inhale you take.
I actually tested two different pods to see how many puffs I got out of it. Taking long draws on the Blue Cherry Burst pod capsule and consciously taking shorter draws on the Cherry Cola pod capsule.
With the Blue Cherry Burst pod capsule, I counted 525 puffs. With the Cherry Cola pod capsule I got 592 puffs out of it, both very respectable numbers there! All in all, both of them lasted me a full day, which is the key metric I like to consider with a pre-filled pod.
Final Review Verdict
Alongside the Roarlabs Roar X range that I recently reviewed, it’s great to see another UK manufacturer releasing a range of pre-filled vapes that are a far more environmentally friendly option than throwaway disposables and offer a real alternative to the convenience of these products.
The Riot Connex is an extremely easy piece of kit to use and the flavours are great too. Riot Squad are known for producing great quality e-liquids and it’s great to see their trademark bold tasting flavours present here.
I would love to see more tobacco/dessert blends present in the range though, as it is very fruit-heavy.
Price-wise, you are also better off purchasing one of these over a disposable. You actually get two 2ml pods included in the kit offering better value for money than a disposable. And replacement pod capsules are very well priced as well!
With regulations around the sale of disposable vapes in the UK due to come in over the next year, I would imagine that we will be seeing more products like this entering the market. If they displace single-use throwaway disposable vapes then I am all for it.
This is an excellent option to consider if you love the convenience of disposable vapes but are concerned about the waste footprint they have. Kudos to Riot Squad for developing a more environmentally friendly alternative to a single use disposable vape!
Have you tried the Riot Connex pod kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
